used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
farther along in physical or mental development
From this reading The owner, Paul Nichols, was a man advanced in years, living quite alone, and himself providing for his simple wants.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading The owner, Paul Nichols, was a man advanced in years, living quite alone, and himself providing for his simple wants.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At present it was dark and weather-beaten, and in a general state of neglect.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At present it was dark and weather-beaten, and in a general state of neglect.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Whether it had ever been painted, was a question not easily solved.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading At present it was dark and weather-beaten, and in a general state of neglect.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading Whether it had ever been painted, was a question not easily solved.
at any time
From this reading Whether it had ever been painted, was a question not easily solved.
FARMHOUSEnounUS /ˈfɑːrmhaʊs/
house for a farmer and family
From this reading THE OLD FARMHOUSE.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The owner, Paul Nichols, was a man advanced in years, living quite alone, and himself providing for his simple wants.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading At present it was dark and weather-beaten, and in a general state of neglect.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Whether it had ever been painted, was a question not easily solved.
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The owner, Paul Nichols, was a man advanced in years, living quite alone, and himself providing for his simple wants.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The owner, Paul Nichols, was a man advanced in years, living quite alone, and himself providing for his simple wants.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Whether it had ever been painted, was a question not easily solved.
the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
From this reading The owner, Paul Nichols, was a man advanced in years, living quite alone, and himself providing for his simple wants.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The owner, Paul Nichols, was a man advanced in years, living quite alone, and himself providing for his simple wants.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
neglectverbUS /nəˈɡlekt/
leave undone or leave out
From this reading At present it was dark and weather-beaten, and in a general state of neglect.
Nichols
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The owner, Paul Nichols, was a man advanced in years, living quite alone, and himself providing for his simple wants.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Whether it had ever been painted, was a question not easily solved.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE OLD FARMHOUSE.
(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading The owner, Paul Nichols, was a man advanced in years, living quite alone, and himself providing for his simple wants.
coated with paint
From this reading Whether it had ever been painted, was a question not easily solved.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading The owner, Paul Nichols, was a man advanced in years, living quite alone, and himself providing for his simple wants.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading At present it was dark and weather-beaten, and in a general state of neglect.
providingverbUS /prəˈvaɪdɪŋ/
-ing form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading The owner, Paul Nichols, was a man advanced in years, living quite alone, and himself providing for his simple wants.
one of four equal parts
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Whether it had ever been painted, was a question not easily solved.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading The owner, Paul Nichols, was a man advanced in years, living quite alone, and himself providing for his simple wants.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading The owner, Paul Nichols, was a man advanced in years, living quite alone, and himself providing for his simple wants.
solvedadjectiveUS /sɑːlvd/
explained or answered
From this reading Whether it had ever been painted, was a question not easily solved.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading At present it was dark and weather-beaten, and in a general state of neglect.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
stridesnounUS /straɪdz/
plural of “stride” — a step in walking or running
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE OLD FARMHOUSE.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty
From this reading The owner, Paul Nichols, was a man advanced in years, living quite alone, and himself providing for his simple wants.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Whether it had ever been painted, was a question not easily solved.
weather-beatenadjective
tanned and coarsened from being outdoors
From this reading At present it was dark and weather-beaten, and in a general state of neglect.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Whether it had ever been painted, was a question not easily solved.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The stranger walked, with hasty strides, in the direction of an old farmhouse, which could be seen a quarter of a mile away.
a late time of life
From this reading The owner, Paul Nichols, was a man advanced in years, living quite alone, and himself providing for his simple wants.
